The Benefits of Good Posture

If you are ending your day of work with aches and pains in your neck and back, it can lead you to feeling uncomfortable in the evening. This feeling of discomfort may have you reaching for a pain reliever or heating pad in order to help you get a good night’s sleep. Taking pain relievers on a regular basis are not good for overall health, and they only mask the underlying problem.

Neck and back pain are the result of regular strain on the spine and joints, and may possibly be the result of bad posture. You may come to find that focusing on your posture during the day will help alleviate the harmful strain on specific points in your back and neck. Good posture has many other benefits, as well.

Proper Muscle Use

When your joints and bones are in proper alignment throughout the day, your muscles are being used evenly and properly. When your muscles are being used efficiently, your overall body, in addition to your neck and back, use less energy. There is better circulation, as well. This in turn leads to significantly less fatigue at the end of the day.

Decreases Stress

Good posture keeps your joints healthy by decreasing the pressure in strain on the surfaces of the joints. It also remarkably decreases any stress put upon the ligaments that are holding the joints of the spine together. This in turn allows the correct muscles to be used more efficiently during times of movement and improves the body’s balance as well as proportion.

Keeps Spine Aligned

When you are spine is properly aligned throughout the day there is less pressure and unnecessary stress put upon your body as a whole. When you are spine is in proper position, the curves within the spine help cushion the joints and protect it. The tissues of the body do not suffer from stress, breathing is optimized, and circulation is heightened.

Prevents Aches and Pains

It is obvious that good posture plays a vital role in your overall well-being. Unnecessary aches and pains can drain you physically and emotionally. There are many elements that go into spine support, such as muscles, ligaments, joints, and tendons that all work together to maintain proper spine health. Keeping your posture in good form allows all of these elements to work together in order to reduce pressure and stress upon your neck and back.

Appearance

Healthy posture gives you a much better appearance. Keeping your shoulders back and standing erect, as well as sitting in an upright position and keeping your neck and trunk aligned will not only make you feel better but will also make you look and feel more alert. Spending your days slouching or being hunched over without realizing it not only gives a less-than-attractive appearance, but also can be a health-risk, namely degenerative disk disease or related spine condition.

The spine has a natural curvature in three areas: the neck, the middle back, and the lower back. These three areas of natural curvature need to be maintained; consistently sitting or standing in an abnormal position will cause undue stress and pain. Try to focus on your back and neck throughout the day and before you know it you will adopt the habit of maintaining good posture without even thinking about it!